Gripping plastic picture frame



J. R. PEACH GRIPPING PLASTIC PICTURE FRAME Oct. 30, 1962 Filed June 13, 1960 lib lib

INVENTOR. Job/7 1?. 1 6 6/7 United States Patent Ofiiice 3,060,606 Patented Oct. 30, 1962 3,060,606 GRIPPING PLASTIC PICTURE FRAME John R. Peach, 823 Quency Bldg., Topeka, Kans. Filed June 13, 1960, Ser. No. 35,591 2 Claims. (Cl. 40-154) This invention relates to picture frames and mountings and refers more particularly to a snap-on assembly of frame members which unite to form an integral picture frame grasping the frame contents.

Conventional picture framing has involved an integral completed frame into which the picture and assorted backing and facing members are inserted. Skilled fitting and careful effort on the part of the fitter has previously been required necessitating the use of nails, glue, scissors, etc. Generally, professional framing is employed, rather than undertake the time and effort to properly frame a picture and achieve desirable results.

Advances have been made in the framing art as evidenced by the Brombosz Patent 1,481,120, Identification Card and Holder, issued January 15, 1924, and the patent to Kulicke et al., 2,777,232, issued January 15, 1957, for Picture Frame. These patents show that the concept has been achieved of a plurality of individual frame members adapted to fit over the edges of the picture, backing and facing elements, the frame members engaging the same in resilient grasping relationship and mitered at the edges thereof to form continuous corners. These art constructions have provided a picture framing construction which can assemble, disassemble and reassemble a picture assembly by the user, with relatively little effort, no skill requirement and without the use of tools or materials. Additionally, these art constructions provide a relatively dust-proof structure that tends to minimize the entry of dust or foreign particles into the picture mount as sembly.

On the other hand, all known framing device constructions yet suffer from a number of critical deficiencies. In the first place, particularly with snap-on framing members, a very tight, integral, continuous fit is desired which will not relax over a period of time of engagement with the picture. Such is also necessary for a truly effective dust seal. Additionally, a construction is desired which may be easily and efficiently engaged with and disengaged from the picture and backing elements without fraying of the edges thereof. Another problem with conventional snap-on frame members lies in the fact that they often require grooves pre-formed in the backing members for precise engagement therewith and successful engagement therewith. This is not practicable with most picture assemblies and is expensive. Still another objection to conventional snap-on members is the fact that only a single engagement of the frame and backing members is provided whereby the backing, facing and picture elements are not adequately stabilized relative to one another so as to be supportable by one frame element or retain edge alignment over long-periods.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a snap-on picture frame construction which will provide a continuous integral frame when fitted over a picture and its facing and backing elements.

Another object of the invention is to provide a snap-on picture framing construction which very tightly engages and precisely positions and fixes the relative arrangements of the picture and its facing and backing elements, while yet being relatively easy to both apply and remove Without damaging the engaged portions thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a snap-on frame member which engages the framed picture assembly elements at a plurality of positions.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a snapon picture frame member which stabilizes the mitered engagement of contiguous engaged frame members on the picture assembly, aligns the corners, and firmly holds the backing and facing sheets to avoid crumpling up and squeegeeing of the same.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a picture framing member which provides continuous surface contact on a back flange thereof with the backside of the picture assembly and also a plurality of line con tacts of front flanges thereof with the front face of the picture assembly.

Another object of the invention is to provide a snap-on picture framing member which does not require any grooves or slots in any portion of the picture assembly to provide successful engagement or to aid in the engaging and disengaging process yet which is readily engageable with and disengageable from a picture assembly without damage thereto and providesa uniquely tight and stable assembly thereof.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear in the course of the following description thereof.

FIG. 1 is a front view of an assembled picture construction with the inventive framing members mounted thereon, parts cut away and in section to better illustrate the construction of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a View taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 in the direction of thearrows.

FIG. 4 is a view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view through the inventive frame members showing in full lines the position before engagement with a picture frame assembly and in dotted lines the position thereafter.

Referring to the drawings, a typical picture assembly is shown engaged by the subject snap-on framing member comprising a facing sheet 10 of some suitable transparent plastic or glass material, a stiffening sheet 11 of cardboard, wood or the like and the picture 12 of any suitable conventional material such as paper, a photographic print, canvas carrying an oil painting, etc.

It should be clearly understood that the illustrated picture assembly is only typical and preferred, and not limiting. An assembly of the backing element 11 and the picture element 12 alone or the picture element 12 and the facing element alone or the picture element itself alone may be employed. In addition to the usual functions of stiffening, bracing and protection, the backing and facing elements, each rather stiff, add bulk to the picture assem bly which may be desirable for achieving the optimum engagement. Thus, as later will be seen, the engaging flanges of the face frame leg will approach a normal position to the backing frame leg only at a certain displacement therefrom. It is preferred to have a picture assembly which approaches the relationship, although some deviation will be acceptable. Therefore, depending upon the thickness, stiffness and integrity of the picture element 12 itself, one or both or neither of the backing and facing elements may be employed. Additionally, double backing or facing elements may optionally be employed, or other elements as desired or optional in a given picture assembly.

Turning to the picture framing elements, only such one element will be described as all four of the elements are identical in cross-sectional structure, although, generally, except in the case of a square picture, two of the elements dilfer in length from the other two. Referring particularly to FIGS. 3-5, inclusive, the inventive framing element comprises a U-shaped or channel element in cross section. The base 13 of the U has connected thereto the legs 14 and 15 of the U. Leg 14 is the backing flange for the picture assembly, while leg 15 is the facing flange thereof. The width of the base 13 between legs 14 and 15 is preferably at least equal to the thickness of the picture frame assembly plus the width of the flange legs to be described and most preferably slightly greater than the sum. Connected to or formed integral with the free end edge of leg 15 is a first flange 15a which preferably extends substantially normal to leg 15. [Flange 15a is preferably continuous and preferably extends the entire length of the leg 15. The width of leg 15 is preferably the width of base 13 less the thickness or desired thickness of the picture frame assembly or most preferably slightly less than this distance.

A second flange 15b is formed integral with or connected to leg 15 next leg 14 and extends substantially normal to leg 15. Flange 15b is preferably of the same width as flange 15a or very close thereto. Flange 15b is preferably positioned equidistant from flange 15a and base 13. Flange 15b is also preferably continuous and preferably extends the length of leg 15. While flanges 15a and 15b may be made interrupted, if this is the case, an effective dust seal for the picture assembly is not provided.

Leg 14 preferably extends normal to base 13 and is preferably of a width equal to or substantially equal to leg 15 whereby the end of leg 14 is precisely aligned with the free edge of flange 15a when the optimum picture assembly is engaged therebetween as in FIG. 2. Leg 14 preferably has a bead 14a continuously formed along the length thereof opposing the free end of flange 15a. FIG. 5 shows in full lines the inventive engaging flange or frame member in its pre-use position before engagement with a picture frame assembly with there being a slight clearness between flange a and bead 14a. The dotted line representation is equivalent to the full line representation of FIG. 2 showing the optimum. position for picture assembly engagement.

The subject framing member is preferably formed of a resilient plastic substance such as polyethylene or vinyl plastic and may be colored any desired color by conventional polyethylene treatment. If it is desired to enlarge or relax somewhat the initial position of the legs 14 and 15, a pencil, ruler or other edged instrument may be passed down the length of a given flange to ease the en gagement with the picture assembly. The subject framing member may be formed by continuous extrusion with the slit formed between bead 14b and flange 15a. In such extrusion, the flanges 15a and 15b are deliberately made shorter than wall 13 and leg 15 compressed toward leg '14 so that force application is required to resiliently separate legs 14 and 15.

In the engagement of actual pictures, and picture assemblies, the end edges of the frame members are preferably each mitered at 45 as seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 to form a precise right angle corner fit. This mitering includes flanges 15a and 15b as well as legs 14 and 15. In the engagement of the picture, leg 15 approaches more to the normal position to base 13, but not quite. Leg 14 is fiat on the picture assembly back in engagement. With the length of flanges 15a and 15b preferably equal, the greatest tension or engaging force is achieved at the outermost flange 15a so long as the leg 15 does not go out quite to the right angle position relative to base 13. To engage the picture assembly edge, the end edge of the legs 14 and 15 may be separated slightly by intrusion of a pencil or ballpoint pen end between flanges 15a or 15b or the picture assembly edge itself used to pry the members apart sufficiently to engage. The channel-shaped frame member is then slid up the length of the picture assembly side continuously engaging the entire length of the side save for the mitered ends thereof. To remove the frame members, they may be slid off in the same manner or merely removed laterally normal to the direction or extension of legs 14 and 15.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In combination, a picture assembly having a facing and a backing side, the facing side displaying a picture, a frame element engaging and fitting over an edge or marginal portion of said picture assembly, said frame ele ment comprising a channel member formed of resilient material, said channel member having a facing leg portion thereof overlying the facing side of said picture assembly and a backing leg portion thereof overlying the backing side thereof whereby to be U-shaped in transverse cross section, the base of the U abutting the edge of the picture assembly, said backing leg of the U extending substantially normal to said base of the U, said facing leg normally yet resiliently biased toward said backing leg, said backing and facing legs extending substantially the same distance from the U-base, a first flange member connected to the free edge of the facing leg and extending substantially normal thereto, a second flange member connected to the facing leg intermediate and substantially equidistant between the free edge thereof and the base of the U and extending substantially normal to said facing leg, said two flange members each extending continuously the length of the second leg, of substantially equal width and of lesser width than that of the Ubase, both of said first and second flange members positively contacting and engaging the said facing side of the picture assembly along the entire lengths thereof with the backing leg engaging continuously along its length the backing side of the picture assembly.

2. A frame element as in claim 1 wherein there is a bead on the first leg free end next the second leg.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,614,354 Winslow Oct. 21, 1952 2,776,508 Hutson Jan. 8, 1957 2,777,232 Kulicke et al Jan. 15, 1957 

